Tough task for Lazarus from outside barrier

THE man who will take the reins behind champion New Zealand pacer Lazarus in his United States debut tomorrow is warning his fans to temper their expectations.

Because while leading reinsman Yannick Gingras says Lazarus can become the best aged pacer in North America that does not mean he will win the $US325,000 $NZ486,000) Dan Patch in Indiana.

Lazarus has drawn the outside of the gate at barrier 9 in the mile (1609m) against some of the best freeforallers in the US and, while early markets have him as favourite, the reality is he faces a massive task.

Not only will he have to give proven 1:48 milers a start but he is taking the locals on at their own game — flatout mile racing.

‘‘Everybody in racing over here is excited to see him and I

Lazarus’ US Debut

In the Dan Patch

Champion pacer Lazarus starts his US race career around 1.30pm tomorrow (NZ time).

He has drawn the outside of the gate in the $US325,000 ($NZ486,000) Dan Patch.

Driver Yannick Gingras says Lazarus can become the best pacer in North America but that it could take a few starts.

am excited to drive him in his first US race,’’ Gingras, who won the Hambletonian Oaks for the fifth straight time last Saturday, said.

‘‘But I think it might be good for people to dampen down their expectations because this is only his first race over here and he has only had one qualifying run.

‘‘I think later in his campaign he can become the best freeforaller up here because while they are all good horses there is no superstar in this crop like an Always B Miki.

‘‘And in three or so starts I might be able to drive him how I like and win, whereas this week it might not be like that.’’

Lazarus set tongues wagging with his 1:48.6 qualifying effort at The Meadowlands two weeks ago and Gingras, who finished third driving another horse in the major freeforall on Hambletonian Day last Saturday, said had Lazarus been in that race he could have won.

‘‘I have no doubts had he raced last Saturday he could have gone 1:47.5 and I think he will be able to get down to 1:47.

‘‘Speed won’t be a problem for this horse. He is plenty fast enough but he still has to get used to the racing up here.’’

Lazarus oddly finds himself in the same position tomorrow as his last start in Australasia, drawn the outside of the gate over a mile.

That was the Miracle Mile at Menangle in February and, affected by a virus, he never looked comfortable and recorded the worst performance of his career.

He was sold to his USbased owners for a record price soon after and, while new trainer Jimmy Takter has clearly honed Lazarus for mile racing, he has always been at his best when racing on the speed to utalise his stamina, not asked to come from the back.

Hoosier Park has a very long straight but with outstanding and racefit freeforallers such as McWicked drawn inside him Lazarus may need to be clearly better than him to win, an extraordinarily big ask in his first US start.

New Zealand punters may want to support Lazarus in the race to be shown live on Trackside around 1.30pm tomorrow, but it might make more sense to do so with the heart rather than the wallet this weekend considering he could start oddson.